Device for cutting edibles



Dec. 1, 1942. H Q w, YQUNG 2,303,595

`DEVI-GE FOR CUTTING EDIBLES Filed Feb. 7, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 1 IOI I I I I Dec. 1, 1942. H. G. w. YOUNG DEVICE FOR CUTTING EDIBLES Filed Feb. 7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1, 1942. H. G. w. YOUNG DEVICE FOR CUTTING EDI'BLES Filed Feb. 7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ung, [Maw Dec. 1, 1942. H. G. w. YOUNG DEVICE FOR CUTTING EDLBLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 7, 1941 rf-4.7' I l WI-ITI.

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Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE DEVICE FOR CUTTING EDIBLES Henry G. W. Young, Somerville, Mass.

Application February 7, 1941, Serial No. 377,799

` (ci. 14e-vs) 21 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for cutting edibles and has for its object the provision of a machine of this character which is adapted to cut vegetables, fruit, meatand other foods into slices, cubes, strips, or into very small parts, to be used in salads, soups, or sandwiches.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which may be used to cut a potato into slices for German fries, into elongated sections to be used for French fries, or to form an elongated section foi-'frying having its four sides corrugated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for cutting meat, cabbages and other vegetables into very small parts for makv ing salads and sandwiches, and cole slaw 'in the case of eabbages.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a machine of this character in which a variety of knives in diierent ,shapes and separated at different distances are mounted in rectangular frames any one or more of which may be mounted in the machine to perform various cutting operations.

.A further object of the invention is the provision whereby vegetables or other food material may be cut into cubes.

A still further object of the invention is the production of a machine of this character which may be constructed at a minimum cost.

'Ihe invention consists of a bed plate having mounted thereon the various instrumentalities which are to be used to perform the various kinds of cutting operations. y

The objects` of the invention are attained by the instrumentalities shown in the accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention.

one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be var- Figure 3 represents a vertical transverse section of the same on line 3, l on Fig. 2.

yFigure 4 represents a front elevation of the machine. l

Figure 5 represents a transverse vertical section on line 5, 5 on Fig. 2.

Figure 6 represents a plan ot a frame containing a plm-amy of knives to be used at the bottom of the main chamber, as indicated in section in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Figure 7 represents an inverted plan of slotted plunger to cooperate with the knives shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Figure 8 represents a vertical longitudinal section on line 2, 2 oi' Fig. 1 showing the machine adapted to cut edibles into cubes.

Figure 9 represents a frame containing a plurality of knives such as are to be used in the construction shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 10 represents an elevation of a slotted plunger adapted to cooperate with the knives shown in Fig. 9. v

Figure 11 represents a vertical section on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1 showing the machine adaptedto cut into slices edibles inserted beneath avertically mov-able plunger through an opening in side of the main chamber 'of the machine.V

Figure 12 represents a frame with a plurality.

Figure 16 represents a plan of' one of the stamped side plates of the machine.

Figure 1'7 represents an elevation of the same.

Figure 18 represents a section of same on line I8, I8 of Fig. 17, and

Figure 19 represents a section of same on line I9, I9 on Fig. 17.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, I0. is a portion of atabl or bench on which is placed a base plate II of steel which is of equal thiclmess throughout and may or may not be secured to said table.

To the top of this base plate II- is spot welded a pair of pressed steel members I2 having upwardly extending sidey plates I3. V

These plates I3 each have at Il a vertical U-V shaped depression in the upper end of which isy disposed an inverted Ushaped strengthening member I having outwardly extending flanges I5 resting on the top of the plates I3.

Extending through the reenforced portions I4 and I5 of these side plates I3 is a shaft I6 having mounted thereon and secured thereto between said side plates I3 the hub I 1 of a manually operated lever I3.

Each outer end of the shaft I6 has secured thereto the hub |13: of a plate I9 having a cam slot in its forward end and a threaded pin 2I in its rear end, said pin 2l having a reduced cylindrical end 22 extending through the front, end of a link 23 the rear end of which has a hub 24 through which extends a shaft 25.

This shaft 25 extends through a horizontally movable plunger 26 and the extreme outer ends of this shaft 25 are disposed in the horizontal slots 21 in the plates I3.

Extending through the cam slot 20 is a shaft or pin 23, said shaft extending through upwardly extending ears 29 in a plunger 30, the under face of which has a plurality of parallel grooves 3| formed therein.

It is obvious that by moving the handle I3 in the direction of the arrow a on Fig. 2 of the drawings, the plunger 30 will be raised in the bottomless chamber 32 and at the same time the plunger 26 will be moved horizontally toward said chamber 32.

The front wall of the chamber 32 has an opening 33 therein normally closed by a slidable plate 34.

The chamber 32 is in front. of the front edge of the table or bench I0.

Beneath the chamber 32 are two parallel grooves 35 formed in the lower ends of the plates Y I3, these grooves extending rearwardly.

In the grooves 35 is adapted to be disposed a by thegrooves 3l of plunger 30 are adapted to be disposed when the plunger 33 is inl its lowest 4 position.'

' The lower ends of the projections 33 are slight- 1 "ly concaved'endwise thereof as indicated at 33x inFig; 5 of the drawings. In the rear wall of the chamber 32 is adapted'V to be disposed in the lower ends of the depres-v sions I4 a frame 39 having a plurality of corru- A gated knivesl therein, these knives 43 being 4.perpendicular tothe knives-31 in the frame 33.

At the rear of` the frame 39 is the plunger 23 having formed in its front face a plurality `of parallel` projections 4I, the forward edges of which have concavities therein, as indicated at the spaces between the knives 4I! of the frame 39.

In the operation of the machine a potato P is placedbetween thevside walls I3 and lin front u of the plunger 26.

.When this hasvbeen done theoperator moves 'the handle I3 in thev direction of the arrow a and causes the plunger :illv to be raised in the 'chamber 32and atthe same time the plunger 23 will-be movediorward to force the potato ff 'into the chamber 32'between the knives 40 causing the potato to be divided into pieces havin corrugated upper and lower faces. f

These divided pieces of potato are forced byV the plunger 26 under the plunger 30 and when the plunger 30 is moved downwardly by the movement of the handle I3 in the opposite direction to the arrow a the pieces of potato will be divided along corrugated lines and form a plurality of corrugated edibles which may be dropped from the knives 31 into any suitable receptacle beneath the open lower end of the chamber 32.

The frame 36 is provided with a handle 332 by which said frame may be inserted into or removed from the grooves 33.

Below the U-shaped member I3 and in the grooves I4 of the side plates I3, the frame 33 may be inserted from the lower end thereof until its upper end comes into contact with the lower end of the U-shaped member I5. In this position it is locked by means of one or more screws 43.

The outer ends of the shaft 23 extend through the ears 29 of plunger 30, and these outer ends and the studs 44 secured to said plunger 30 are adapted to travel in vertical slots 45 formed in the side plates I3.

When the slidable plate 34 is in its closed position it is locked in said closed position by means of the screw 46.

'I'he knives 40 in the frame 39 are inclined and slightly out of parallelism with each other, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

When it is desired to slice other vegetables, fruit and meat for use in salads, for pickling. or making sandwiches, the frame 36 may be removed from the grooves 35 and another frame 41 substituted therefor.

This frame 41 has a plurality of knives 43 extending lengthwise thereof and spaced apart by transversely disposed knives 43x, as shown in Fig.

12 of the drawings.

The spacing apart of the knives 43 may be varied to suit different conditions of work to be done.

This frame 41 preferably has a'handle 411: by which it may be inserted into the grooves 35' and removed therefrom.

When this frame 41 with its knives 43 is to be used` a plunger 49 may be substituted Vfor the plunger 30 in the chamber 32.

The under side of the plunger 49 has a plane unbroken surface, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

When the plunger 49 is in its upper position the slidable. member 34 is removed and then edibles may be inserted into the chamber 32 f through the opening 33. these edibles being disposed upon the knives 43 and 431:.

The knives 43:1.' are provided in the upper end thereof with a. plurality of slits 41.1: as shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings. and the knives 43 are disposed in these slits 41x.

By this construction the knives 43 are prevented from buckling, and consequently are retained in vparallelism at all times.

The slits 41x may be spaced apart at different distances according to the particular work to be performed. v

'I'he slidable member 34 is then movedv into the position to close the opening 33.

The operator then by moving the handle I3 in I the direction of the arrow b on Fig. 11 of the drawings, will lower the plunger 49 and force the edibles through the spaces between the knives 43, 43:1: allowing the sliced portions of said edibles to drop into any suitable receptacle provided to receive them.

When it is desired to cut edibles into strips rectangular in cross section, the frame 39 is removed from the grooves I4 and a frame 60 is inserted into the grooves I4, this frame 58 having a plurality of knives I spaced apart with one set of knives perpendicular to the other set,y as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

When this frame 50 is in use a plunger 52 is used instead of the plunger 26, said plunger 52 having rectangular projections 53 formed in the front face thereof.

When the frame 50 and plunger 52 are in use there is no plunger required in the chamber 32. A potato or other edible having been placed between the plunger 52 andframe 50, thev lever I 8 may be moved in the direction of the arrow c on Fig. 8 of the drawings and the edible will be forced through the openings between the knives 5I causing the same to be cut into elongated sections rectangular in cross section.

These sections thus cut may be dropped The front wall 54 of the chamber 32 is removable but is normally secured to the iianges 51 extending outwardly from the side plates I3 by means of the screws 55 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 8 and 11 of the drawings.

By removing the front wall 54 the chamber 32 may be thoroughly .cleaned after one kind of edible has been operated upon before another kind of edible is inserted into said chamber.

The opening 33.is formed in this front wall 54 and the closing plate 34 is disposed in a recess or depression 56 in the inner face thereof. In closing position the inner face of the plate 34 is alined with the inner face of the front'wall 54.

On either side of the vertical slot 45 the plate I3 has outwardly vextending flanges 51:1: which stiften the plate I3. n

The outer ends of the shaft 25 have annular peripheral grooves 25a: formed therein and normally positioned in said grooves 25x are springs 58 which are secured at one end to the side plates I3.

When it is desired to remove a plunger 23 and substitute therefor another plunger such as 52, these springs58 may be removed from the peripheral grooves 25:1: to permit the shaft 25 to be moved endwise and removed from the plunger 26.

When a new plunger as 52 is substituted for the plunger 26, the shaft 25 is positioned therein and then locked from end movement by inserting the springs 58 again in the peripheral slots 253:.

'Ihe curvatures 42 on the forward ends of the projections 4I of the plunger 26 and similar curvatures 38a: in the lower end of the projections 38 of the plunger 30 in the chamber 32 perform an important office because when these projections push the potato or other vegetable through the knives with which they coact a shearing effect is produced which is very advantageous.

The flanges 51 at the front end of the side members I3 not only stiffen the same but `also provide a means wherebythe front wall 54 of the machine may be secured thereto by the screws 55.

The flanges 51:1: not only stiften the frame but also form a better broad faced guide for the shaft 26 as it is reciprocated in the slot 45.

The making of the framework in the manner shown and described is of some importance, the base plate II being preferably made of steel and the base I2 of the side frames I3 being spot Welded or otherwise securedthereto.

The adjacent edges of the bases I2 preferabl abut as shown at the right of Fig. l.

These bases I2 and the side frames I3 are made A through the open bottom of the chamber 32 into of pressedsteel and are provided with the longitudinal slots 21, the vertical U-shaped depressions I4, the flanges 51a: forming broad faced walls to a vertical slot 45 and has reenforcing flanges 51 at the forward end of said side plates I3.

By this construction amore rigid framework is secured which is much lighter than a frameworloformed of cast metal.

Moreover, by forming the framework in the manner shown and described, the cost of manufacture is greatly reduced and a more rigid framework is provided.

By making the knives 40 in the frame 39 slightly out of parallelism with each other, it has been found in practice that it is much easier to force a potato between said knives than would be the case if the knives 40 were parallel to each other. v Y

It is obvious, therefore, this one machine as shown and described may be utilized for cutting various edibles into different shapes according to the manner in which they are to be cooked or served. v

All that is necessary is to provide different frames having knives arranged therein in such a manneras to accomplish the purpose desired,

it being understood that in some cases only a a special form of plunger 26 must be provided,.

these plungers 30 and 26 respectively coacting with the special form 'of knives 31 in'frame 36 and the special forms of knives 40 shown in the framework 39.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be understood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In' a device for cutting edibles, 'the combination of a frame consisting of a at bed plate having superimposed upon and secured thereto a pair of independent parallel side plates provided at their lower ends with abutting oppositely disposed flanges, the upper and lower faces of which are parallel, said side plates having horizontal grooves formed in the forward end thereof and near the bottom thereof; a bottomless chamber at said forward end of said framea manually actuated lever for reciprocating said plunger, the hub of which is disposed upon said shaft between said side plates.

2. In an edible cutter as set forth in claim 2, in which said side plates have at the rear of said chamber oppositely disposed vertical grooves open at the bottom; a second rectangular frame having a plurality of two sets'of transerve knives perpendicular to each other and insertable into the lower ends of said vertical grooves; means for locking said second frame in working position; a horizontally movable plunger cooperat- `ing with the knives of said second frame and having on its front face a plurality of ilat ended rectangular projections adapted to coact with the knives of said second frame.

3. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which means is provided for re taining said knife frame in working position with the outer side portions thereof between and`in contact with the upper and lower walls of said horizontal grooves.

4. In a device for cutting edibles, as set forth in claim l. in which said side plates have oppositely disposedvertical grooves open at the bottom and closed at the top thereof; a second rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse knives and insertable into the lower ends of said vertical grooves; means for retaining said second frame in working position; a plunger movable horizontally between said plates; and a lever between said side plates for reciprocating said plunger.

5. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim l, in which said side plates have at the forward end thereof and at the rear of said chamber oppositely' disposed vertical grooves open at Vthe bottom and closed at the top thereof; a second rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse knives and insertable into the lower ends of said vertical grooves; means for retaining said second frame in working position; a plunger cooperating with the knives of said frame, said plunger being slidable horizontally by said'lever on the upper face of the opposed inner flanges of said plates.

6. In a device .for cutting edibles as set forth ing. av 'plurality of knives and 'insertable into the lower-ends of said vertical grooves; means for retaining said second frame in working position; a plunger movable horizontally by said lever on l the inwardly extending flanges-of said side plates and lcooperating with the knives of the second frame; cam plates .secured to and oscillating with the shaft of said actuating lever; and links conn f necting said* horizontally movable plunger` with the` lower ends of said c'am plates.

7. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said side plates have at the rear o f said chamber oppositely disposed vertical grooves open at the bottom and closed at the top thereof; a second rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse knives and inserti able into the lower ends of said vertical grooves; means for retaining said second frame in Working position; cam plates on the outer ends of said oscillating lever shaft; a'horizontally movable plunger -cooperating with the knives of said second frame and slidable upon the inwardly extending` ilaugesof said side plates; a plurality of transverseprojections on the front of said horizontally movable plunger adapted to coact `f with the knives'of the second frame with their tical grooves open at the bottom and closed ato the top thereof; a second rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse knives and insertable into the lower ends of said vertical grooves; means for supporting said second frame in working position; a horizontally movable plunger cooperating with the knives of said second frame and slidable upon the inwardly extending flanges of said side plates; a plurality of elongated projections on the front end of the horizontally movable plunger and the lower end of the vertical movable plunger; said projections being slightly concaved endwise and adapted to coact respectively with the knives of the second and first knife frames; and means for. moving forward the horizontally movable plunger by said actuating lever and then moving downwardly the vertical movable plunger by a reversal of the movement of said lever.

9. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said side plates have at the rear of said chamber oppositely disposed vertical grooves open at the bottom and closed at the top; a second rectangular frame having mounted therein two sets of transverse knives perpendicular to each other and insertable into the lower ends of said vertical grooves; means for retaining said second frame in working position; a horizontally movable plunger cooperating with the knives of the second frame and having on its front face a plurality of dat ended rectangular projections adapted to coact with the knives of the second frame; and means connected to said actuating lever whereby the horizontal plunger is moved at once to the end of its forward stroke and then the vertical plunger is moved downwardly by a reversal of the movement of said lever.

10. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim l, in which each side plate thereof is formed of metal of equal thickness throughout and is provided near its forward end with a vertical alot with outwardly extending integral flanges at the opposite sides of said slot.

ll. Ina device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1. in which each side plate thereof is. formed of metal of equal thickness throughout and has formed integral therewith near its forward end a vertical groove with parallel side walls.

12. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, -in which each side plate thereof is formed of metal of equal thickness throughout and has formed integral therewith near its forward end a vertical groove with parallel side walls and said side plate having acylindrical hole formed therein near the upper end of said groove.

13. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, in whicheach side plate thereof is formed of metal of equal thickness throughout and has formed integral therewith at the bottom of its forward end a horizontal groove with parallel upper and lower walls.

14. In a device for cutting edibles, a combination of a frame consisting of a bed plate having secured thereto parallel vertical side plates each of said side plates having near the bottom thereof a longitudinalslot; a plunger movable horizontally Abetween said side plates: a rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse knives and insertable into vertical grooves formed in said side plates; an oscillating shaft extending through bearings in said side plates; a manually actuated lever secured to said shaft between said side plates; cam plates secured to the opposite ends of said oscillating shaft; a removable shaft extending through a cylindrical bearing insaid plunger with its ends disposed in said longitudinal slots; links between the ends of said shaft and the lower ends of said cam plates; and means for preventing the accidental displacement of said plunger shaft.

15. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which a side wall of said chamber has an opening therein through which edibles may be inserted into said chamber onto said knives; and a plate for closing said opening slidable in a depression in said side wall with its inner face in the same plane as the inner face of said wall. v

16. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said side plates have at the rear of said chamber oppositely disposed vertical grooves open at the bottom; a second rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse inclined knives out of parallelism with each other and insertable into the lower ends of said vertical grooves; means for locking said second frame in working position; a horizontally movable plunger cooperating with the knives of said second frame and in its movement contacting with the upper faces of the inwardly extending flanges of said side plates; and a plurality of transverse projections on the front of said horizontally movable plunger adapted to coact with the knives of said second frame with their front edges slightly concaved endwise.

' 17. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth' in claim 1, in which said side plates have at the rear of said chamber oppositely disposed vertical grooves open at the bottom; a second rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse knives and insertable into the lower ends of said 4vertical grooves; means for locking said second frame in working position; a horizontally movable v'plunger cooperating with the knives of said second frame; and a plurality of transverse projections on the front of said horizontally movable plunger adapted to coact with the knives of said second frame with their front edges slightly concaved endwise, the knives in both knife frames being corrugated with one set of knives perpendicular to the other set of knives.

18. In a device for cutting edibles, the combination of a frame consisting of a bed plate having secured thereto the inwardly extending flanges of a pair of parallel side plates, said plates having oppositely disposed iianged vertical slots formed therein at the forward ends thereof; a bottomless chamber at the forward end of said frame perpendicular to and in front of said bed plate; a plunger movable vertically in said chamber and having a pin extending therethrough into said vertical slots; a rectangular frame having a plurality of transverse knives and insertable in grooves formed in the bottom of said side plates and below said chamber; studs Aextending from the opposite sides of said plunger into the flanged vertical slots of said side plates; a shaft oscillat able in both of said side plates; a manually actuated lever secured to said shaft between said side plates; and plates secured to said shaft having cam slots enacting with the outer ends of said Din to reciprocate said plunger.

19. In a device for cutting edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said side plates have at the rear of said chamber oppositely disposed vertical grooves; and a U-shaped reenforcing member secured in the upper end of said grooves and v through which the shaft of said actuating lever extends.

20. In a device for cutting edibles, a framework consisting of a metal base plate having secured thereto the abutting inwardly extending flanges of two oppositely disposed side plates each having a horizontally disposed guide slot in the rear end thereof, a vertical side depression opening inwardly, a slot in the forward portion havingoutwardly extending flanged walls, an outwardly' extending reenforcing flange at the front thereof, and a. horizontally disposed groove at the bottom of the forward end thereof extending rearwardly to the vertical side depression.

2l. In .a device for cutting edibles, a framework consisting of a metal base plate having secured thereto the abutting flanges of two oppositely disposed side plates each having a horizontally disposed guide slot in the rear end thereof, a vertical side depression opening inwardly, a vertical-slot in the forward portion having outwardly extending anged walls, an outwardly extending reenforcing ilange at the front thereof, a horizontally disposed groove at the bottom of the forward end thereof, and a front plate removably secured to the front reenforcing flanges of said side plates.

. HENRY G. W. YOUNG. 

